Winners of the Mathieu Da Costa Challenge
GATINEAU, February 24, 2005 -- Minister of State (Multiculturalism) Raymond Chan today presented the Mathieu Da Costa Challenge Awards to 11 students at a special ceremony held at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.Launched in 1996 to mark Black History Month, the Mathieu Da Costa Challenge is an annual Canada-wide competition for students aged 9 to 18. To participate, they must submit an essay, short story, poem or piece of artwork that celebrates the contributions of Aboriginal people and Canadians of all ethnic and racial origins to Canada's development. This year, 1,053 entries were received, up from 1,023 in 2004 and 581 in 2003. The numbers show the growing popularity of the Challenge among youth.
"This 10th anniversary of Black History Month is a fitting time to highlight the vision that young Canadians have of our society and our history," said Minister of State Chan. "By casting light on the stories of outstanding Canadians, we learn to deepen our knowledge and understanding of each other, and to develop greater mutual respect."
The Mathieu Da Costa Challenge is one of the main activities of Black History Month, which is celebrated in February. The Government of Canada officially recognized Black History Month in 1995, when Parliament unanimously approved a motion introduced by Jean Augustine, Member or Parliament (Etobicoke-Lakeshore), the first Black woman elected to the House of Commons.
For more information on Black History Month and the Mathieu Da Costa Challenge, visit the following Web pages:
www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/multi/black-noir/index_e.cfm
www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/multi/black-noir/dacosta_e.cfm
For more information on the Canadian Teachers' Federation, visit the CTF Web site at www.ctf-fce.ca
Information:
Roy Bornmann
Office of the Minister of State
(Multiculturalism)
(819) 997-9900
Myriam Brochu
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-9314
Backgrounder
2005 Mathieu Da Costa Challenge Winners
Best Essays in English
Julia Spears, age 10
Truro, Nova Scotia
Rose Fortune
Varman Koneswaran, age 13
North York, Ontario
Jordin Tootoo, A Hero of a Legend: The First Inuk to Make it to the NHL
Kristi Martin, age 14
Victoria, British Columbia
The Power of One Helping Hand
Kaitlin Wood, age 15
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Building Canada Through Words
Best Essays in French
Benoit Beaulieu, age 9
Chambly, Quebec
Kateri Tekakwitha
Jean-Daniel Bergeron, age 12
Ottawa, Ontario
Luke Merville : Travailleur humanitaire infatiguable
Roman Blomme, age 14
Summerland, British Columbia
Elijah McCoy
Ariane Brun del Re, age 16
Ottawa, Ontario
À l'aube d'un commencement
Best Artistic Representations
Peter Millman, age 10
Truro, Nova Scotia
Josiah Henson
Sarah Robert, age 14
Dalhousie, New Brunswick
Paysage, couleurs d'un pays, visages de notre histoire
Tae-Kyung Kim, age 16
Surrey, British Columbia
Miyuki Tanobe's Nihonga
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